Lindsay Coulson | Writer
October 21, 2022
British boy band, The 1975, released their newest album, Being Funny In a Foreign Language, on October 14, 2022. The band consists of lead singer Matthew Healy, lead guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross Macdonald, and drummer George Daniel. The album was produced by Jack Antonoff, also known for working with Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey. However, the band made it clear to Jack that they would still reserve the right to creative control. During their writing sessions in 2021, the band worked with BJ Burton, who worked with Bon Iver, and the influence is evident when listening to the album.
While this is the band’s fifth album, they continue to bring something to the table that a lot of other bands lack: humor. In their opening track, “The 1975,” the band writes, “You see, I can’t sleep ‘cause the American Dream/has been buying up all of my self-esteem/while QAnon created a legitimate scene/but it was just some bloke in the Phillippines.” During “Part of the Band,” Matty sings, “I know some ‘Vaccinista tote bag chic baristas/Sitting east on their Communista keister.” And “I’m In Love With You” is worth mentioning the line, “‘Don’t f*** it, you muppet.’”An important message to take away from The 1975 is that music doesn’t always have to be serious to make you feel something.
However, they also can be prophetic when the time calls for it. Their opening song, “The 1975,” repeats “I’m sorry if you’re living and you’re 17.” They reach out to the people “making an aesthetic out of not doing well and/mining all the bits of you you think you can sell.” In “All I Need To Hear,” they write about someone saying they’re in love with you. “I’ve been told/So many times before/But hearing it from you/Means much more.” A line from the album that stands out to me is “I never know what to think about, so think about you” in the song “About You.”
This is the band’s fifth album, with their first one released back in 2013. Senior Emma Fann said, “[t]he 1975 releasing an album this year brings me back to the early 2010s.” Their sound has dramatically changed since their debut album. While the band’s early albums were synth-heavy, Matty Healy was sure to keep Being Funny In a Foreign Language live and untouched by computers as much as possible. Junior Olivia Blackwell said, “The new album is the perfect mix of old sounds and new sonic perspectives.”
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